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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has today registered new rules that require telcos to detect, trace and block scam calls. The Reducing Scam Calls Code, developed by the telco industry, was a direct recommendation of the ACMA’s Combating Scams Action Plan. This is an ACMA Media Release The ACMA has worked closely with telcos and peak…

Read More New rules to detect, trace and block scam calls

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The independent committee that monitors the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (the Code) has released its annual report for a year marked by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, along with extensive regulatory changes stemming from the Financial Services Royal Commission. This is a Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee Media Release Customer owned…

Read More Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee releases Annual Report for 2019-20

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ISO/COPOLCO Capacity building mentorship program has appointed 10 mentors to work with representatives from 11 countries in Africa, the four appointed from Australia are all CFA Standards Representatives – John Henry working with participants in Malawi and Botswana, John Furbank with participants in the Seychelles, Antonio Bonacruz with participants in Zimbabwe and Heather Grain with participants in Zambia. The program aims to attain concrete standards-related consumer protection objectives and…

Read More Congratulations to CFA representatives appointed to an international mentorship program involving Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and the Seychelles

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Consumer data released by the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) reveals a growing proportion of young Australians left vulnerable as they face a future of mounting debt due to the lasting impact of COVID-19. This is a CPRC Media Release After 6 months of steep financial challenges, many young consumers have turned to unsustainable practices to get…

Read More Young people wading in sea of debt as they bear the brunt of COVID-19

and hand pumping hand sanitiser from a bottle and hand pumping hand sanitiser from a bottle

The following is a media release by the Hon Michael Sukkar MP: Consumers will be able to better identify the effectiveness of different hand sanitiser products under new laws designed to help Australians stay COVIDsafe. The Morrison Government has accepted the recommendations of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that requires hand sanitiser manufactures…

Read More Better hand sanitiser information to keep COVIDsafe

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Consumer Action has published a report with case studies and data documenting the ways the telecommunications industry in Australia continues to fail the community, even during the COVID-19 crisis. This is Consumer Action Law Centre Media Release. The Trouble with Telcos: Stories from 2020 report reveals that many people have been left high and dry by their telecommunications providers, with people being: unable to access affordable hardship assistance, forced to take out more credit to pay…

Read More Report reveals telco failures during COVID-19 crisis

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Financial counsellors around Australia welcome yesterday’s announcement by the ACCC that Telstra and the ACCC will be asking the Federal Court to impose a penalty of $50 million on the telco. The penalty relates to unconscionable conduct in its’ dealings with 108 Indigenous customers. This is a media release by Financial Counselling Australia. Telstra has admitted…

Read More Financial counsellors welcome announcement of court proceedings concerning unconscionable conduct by Telstra against Indigenous customers

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New figures released today show COVID-19-related consumer reports make up the majority of the 109,446 complaints the ACCC received in the first ten months of this year. This is an ACCC Media Release. The impact of COVID-19 on consumers and fair trading report reveals the pandemic’s impact on travel resulted in 24,210 complaints to the ACCC,…

Read More Travel problems top list of COVID-19-related reports

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The Consumers’ Federation of Australia has joined organisations and prominent individuals nation-wide in an open letter calling for Senators to block the weakening of safe lending laws. The following is a CHOICE media release. Axing safe lending laws will be bad for people, bad for the economy and directly contradict the first recommendation of the…

Read More 122 organisations join together to oppose Government’s plan to axe safe lending laws

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Four of Australia’s largest e-commerce businesses have confirmed their commitment to protecting consumers from unsafe goods online after signing on to a new product safety pledge. The following is a media release by the ACCC. The Australian Product Safety Pledge launched today, is a voluntary initiative that commits its signatories to a range of safety related responsibilities…

Read More E-commerce businesses pledge to strengthen product safety online

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CFA has provided written feedback, and participated in online workshops, on a Scoping Paper produced by consultants as part of the Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. The Act is one of the main pieces of legislation and agreements that make up the joint food regulatory system that operates in Australia…

Read More CFA gives feedback to the Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991

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Consumers’ Federation of Australia is excited to have become a member of the EveryAGE Counts national coalition to end ageism. We are now a proud member of this diverse and growing coalition of organisations and individuals committed to achieving this important shift in the way we understand and experience growing older. By joining the coalition,…

Read More CFA joins the EveryAGE Counts national coalition to end ageism